Automatic winding reel

ABSTRACT

An automatic winding reel comprises a pivoting pawl mounted on a reel hub to be projected from and retracted into the reel hub. The pivoting pawl comprises a first pawl part for engaging a tape-like material and a second pawl part for guiding the tapelike material, engaged by said first pawl part, to the outer peripheral surface of the reel hub along the outer surface of the second pawl part in a smooth gradual curve. The tape-like material engaged by the pivoting pawl is wound in a gradual curve so that a permanent bend does not remain on the tape-like material.

United States Patent 1191 Fukatsu et a1.

AUTOMATIC WINDING REEL Inventors: Shichiro Fukatsu, Chigasaki; TakeshiOkano, Yokohama, both of Japan Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.,Yokhama-City, Kanagawa-ken, Japan Filed: Apr. 5, 1971 Appl. No.: 131,033

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 3, 1970 Japan 45/31555 Apr. 3,1970 Japan 45/3l556 u.s. c1. 242/195, 242/74, 242/192, 242/210 I111. 01.c111, 15/66, 1365b 75/28 Field of Search 242/195, 192, 210, 242/205,197, 74, 74.1, 74.2

1111 3,752,416 1451 Aug. 14, 1973 1,522,248 l/l925 Johnson 242/743,208,682 9/1965 Pastor et 242/195 3,522,915 8/1970 Krtous et a1. 242/74Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz Attorney-Louis Bernat [5 7] ABSTRACT Anautomatic winding reel comprises-a pivoting pawl mounted on a reel hubto be projected from and retracted into the reel hub. The pivoting pawlcomprises a first pawl part for engaging a tape-like material and asecond pawl part for guiding the tape-like material, engaged by saidfirst pawl part, to the outer peripheral surface of the reel hub alongthe outer surface of the second pawl part in a smooth gradual curve. Thetapelike material engaged by the pivoting pawl is wound in a gradualcurve so that a permanent bend does not remain on the tape-likematerial.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures AUTOMATIC WINDING REEL This inventionrelates to an automatic winding reel. and more particularly to a reelwhich automatically engageswith and winds up a tape-like material, suchas a tape leader or a film etc.

There have been proposed various kinds of winding reels forautomatically engaging and winding up a tapelike material fed out of asupply reel. There is, for example, an automatic winding reel (whichwinds up a tape-like material) having a pin projecting from the reel hubwhich engages with an engaging slot formed in the tape-like material.However, in this conventionalautomaticwinding reel, the pin often causesdamage to the engaging slot of the tape-like material by the impact ofthe pin when it. engages the tape-like material. Accordingly, theconventional reel has disadvantages in that it is incapable of smoothlyand accurately engaging and winding of the tape-like material. Also, thetapelike material is damaged by frequent use.

In. order to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of theconventional automatic winding reel, I have proposed an automaticwinding reel of a type using a pivoting pawl. This proposed automaticwinding reel-comprises upper and lower flanges, a reel hub hav ing alarge recess and pivoting pawls which are rotatable in the recess. Atits free end portion, this pivoting pawl projects out of the recess ofthe reel hub before engaging with the tape-like material. As the reelrotates under this condition, the free end portion of the pivoting pawlengages the engaging slot of the tape-like material, and the tape-likematerial is wound on the reel hub with the rotation of the reel.

In this proposed automatic winding reel, however, the end portion of thetape-line material, which en.- gages the pivoting pawl is wound on thereel hub, is bent at a fairly sharp angle. As a result, if the tape-likematerial is frequently wound on this automatic winding reel, the endportion of the tape-like material comes to have a permanently bend, andis not straight even when the tape-like material is not engaged with thereel.

Among the apparatuses which record and reproduce video signals on andfrom a magnetic tape by means of rotary magnetic heads (hereinafterreferred to as VTR apparatuses), there is a similar VTR apparatus foreffecting an auto-loading of a tape. In this auto-loading type of VTRapparatus, a tape leader is fed out of a'supply reel and travels alongthe outer surface of a guide drum containing the aforementioned rotarymagnetic headslt is automatically engaged with and wound on an automaticwinding reel. In this apparatus, the tape leader, which is fed out ofthe-supply reel, must pass through a complicatedly curved tape guide orrunning path leading to the automatic winding reel. Similarly, the tapeleader which is rewound on the supply reel from the automatic windingreel must also pass through the complicated running path. Accordingly,it is essential, particularly in this tape auto-loading type of VTRapparatus, that the end portion of the tape-like material be alwaysmaintained in a straight condition, without having a permanent curl orbend resulting from too much automatic winding, as described above.

"This requirement is more imperative in the case wherein a tapecartridge containing the aforementioned supply reel is used in the tapeauto-loading type of VTR apparatus. If there is a permanent bend on theend portion of the tape leader, a smooth and accurate which-caneliminate the aforementioned disadvantages.-

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic winding reelwhich is capable of a smooth and? automatic engaging with and winding ofa tape-like material, without causing a permanent bend. thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic windingreel which is particularly effective if employed in a tapeauto-loading-type of magnetic video recording and reproducing apparatus,having a complicated tape running path, without causing the tape-likematerial to have a permanent bend thereon.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an automaticwinding reel which is capable of smoothly and accurately effecting anautomatic engagement with and winding of a tape-like material, withoutcausing damage to the tape-like material.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent fromthe description made hereinbelow with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of a tape auto-loading-typeof magnetic video recording and reproducing apparatus to which anautomatic winding reel according to this invention is applicable;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of one embodiment of an automatic winding reelaccording to the invention with its upper flange removed;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the automatic winding reel shown inFIG. 2 with the upper flange mounted and viewed from line III-III side;and

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of one example of a tape leader.

First to be described is one embodiment (FIG. 1) of a tapeauto-loading-type of magnetic video recording and reproducing apparatususing an automatic winding reel according to the invention. A tapecartridge 10 is mounted at a predetermined position asshown in thefigure. The tape cartridge 10 generally comprises a cartridge case 11with a supply reel 12 contained therein. In the fore end of the case 11, there are formed an outlet for the tape and an opening for receivinga tape feeding roller 13 to be described later. A magnetic tape 14,having a tape leaderlS leading at the end, is wound on the supply reel12.

-As shown in FIG. 4, the tape leader 15 consists of a first leaderportion 15a which has the same width as the magnetic tape 14 and asecond narrow leader portion 15b, which is located between the magnetictape 14 and the first leader portion 15a. The first leader portion 15ais made of a relatively hard flexible material which is normally in astraight state. The second leader portion 15b is made of a soft flexiblematerial which will not damage a tip of a magnetic head when it comesinto contact with the magnetic head. Its width is narrower than that ofthe first leader portion 15a. The first leader portion 15a is formed inits foremost end portion with an engaging slot 16 having a width 1,.

In the tape auto-loading-type' of operation, a play button 39 is pushed.The apparatus is then changed over to an auto-loading mode, and the tapefeeding roller 13 enters the cartridge 10. The roller 13 rotates as itis pressed against the outer periphery of the windings of the magnetictape 14 and the tape leader 15 wound on the supply reel 12. The rotationof the roller 13 causes the windings to rotate with the supply reel 12,whereby the tape leader 15 led by the first leader portion 15a is fedout of the tape outlet of the tape cartridge 10.

The tape leader l5, fed out of the tape cartridge 10, passes between atension pole 17 and a guide pole 18 and is guided to a guide plate 19.Then, the tape leader 15 moves along a guide pole 20, and passes betweena transparent guide plate 21 and an erasing head assembly 22 and betweenthe guide plate 21 and a first photocell 23. The tape leader 15 whichhas been guided by the guide plate 21 further passes between a guidepole 24 and a guide drum 25 containing rotary magnetic heads (not shown)whichrecord and reproduce video signals, and there it enters a leaderguide 26.

The leader guide26 is mounted slantwise relative to the scanning surfaceof the guide drum 25, and it is spaced slightly away therefrom. Theleader guide extends along substantially the semicircle of the guidedrum 25. The leader guide 26 has a leader passage with an opening formedon the opposite side of the guide drum 25, the guide having asubstantially C-shaped cross section. The first leader portion 15a ofthe tape leader 15 moves into the leader passage, from the entrance ofthe leader guide 26. As the first leader portion 15a advances within theleader guide 26, the second leader portion 15b, which has a narrowerwidth, is disengaged from the leader guide 26 through the opening of theC-shaped cross section. Thus, leader 15b is brought into contact withthe guide drum 25. Consequently, the magnetic tape 14, which follows thesecond leader portion 15b, directly contacts the guide drum 25 withoutentering the leader guide 26.

The tape leader 150, which has emerged from the leader guide 26, isguided by a tape guide plate 27, and it passes between the guide plate27 and a guide pole 28 and between a transparent guide plate 32 and anaudio erasing head assembly 29, a second photocell 30 and a controlsignal and audio signal recording and reproducing head assembly 31. Thetape leader 15 further passes by a sensing pole 33 and between a capstan34, a pinch roller 35, and then it reaches an automatic winding reel 36.Lamps 37 and 38 respectively emit light to the first and secondphotocells 23 and 30.

Next to be described is one embodiment (FIG. 2 and FIG. 3) of theautomatic winding reel 36 constructed according to the invention. Theautomatic winding reel 36 generally comprises a reel hub 50 and upperand lower reel flanges 51a and 51b, fixed respectively to the upper andlower surfaces of the reel hub 50. FIG. 2 shows the automatic windingreel with its upper flange 51a removed. The reel hub 50 is formed withtwo large recesses 52.

Pawls 53 are pivotally mounted on shafts 54 so as to enter and emergefrom the recesses 52 of the reel hub 50. The free end portion of eachpivoting pawl 53 includes a first pawl part 55 which is relatively thinor a small thickness I, (FIG. 3) and a second pawl part 56 which isrelatively thick or a large thickness I An outer surface of the firstpawl part 55 has an arcuate form which conforms to the circumference ofthe reel hub 50, when the pivoting pawl 53 is in its retracted positioninside the reel'hub 50, as shown by solid lines in FIG. 2. The secondpawl part 56 is formed integrally with the first pawl part 55 and on theinner side thereof,

namely on the side near the center of the reel. An outer surface 67' ofthe second pawl part 56 is curved so as to gradually extend and approachthe circumference of the reel hub 50. Starting from the tip of the pawl,part 56 spirals outwardly until its contour finally conforms to thecircumference of the hub. The first pawl part 55 projects and extendsfrom the middle .part of the outer surface 67 of the second pawl part 56as viewed in the direction of its thickness.

,An elastic material 57, such as rubber, is stuck to the surface of thefirst pawl part 55, extending from its tip to the line where the tipmeets the second pawl part 56. When the tip of the first pawl part 55engages the end part of the recess in the reel hub 50, contact isthrough the elastic material 57 when the pivoting pawl 53 is in itsretracted position shown by solid lines in FIG. 2. The elastic material57 serves to reduce shock responsive to an impact which the pivotingpawl 53 has upon the leader, when the pivoting pawl 53 engages theleader as described later.

At the other end of the pivoting pawl 53, first and second base endparts 58 and 59, have pins 60 and 61 erected respectively thereon. Amicroswitch 62, provided inside of the reel hub 50, is opened and closedby a leaf spring 63 which is fixed at one end to the switch case. Itsfree end engages the pin 61 of one pivoting pawl 53. The leaf spring 63is moved in a pivotal motion by the pin 61. The microswitch 62 may alsobe provided in a position where the leaf spring 63 is engaged by the pinof the other pivoting pawl.

A spring 65 is held between the pin 61 and a fixed pin 64. The pivotingpawl 53 is pulled by the spring 65 acting in a counterclockwisedirection, as'viewed in FIG. 2. Normally, pawl 53 is held in an extendedposition, as shown by a broken line. FIG. 3 shows a side elevation ofthe automatic winding reel 36 when the pivoting pawl 36 is in theaforementioned extended position. In this condition, the extendedposition of the pivoting pawl 53 is restricted by an abutting engagementof the pin 60 with a leaf spring 66. The resilient force of the leafspring 66 is stronger than the resilient force of the spring 65.

Nextly, an operation of the automatic winding reel having the abovementioned construction will be described. The first leader portion 15ais fed out of the tape cartridge 10 and automatically threaded along thepredetermined tape running path provided on the magnetic recording andreproducing apparatus. The tape moves in the direction of arrow A, intoa spacebetween the upper and lower flanges 51a and 51b of the automaticwinding reel 36, which is rotating in the direction of arrow B, namely aclockwise direction. At this time, the pivoting pawl 53 is held in theextended position, shown in FIG. 2 by a broken line, by the force of thespring 65. Pawl 53 rotates integrally with the automatic winding reel 36as it turns in the direction of arrow B. The tip of the pawl projectsout of the reel hub 50.

The width I of the engaging slot 16 (FIG. 4) of the first leader portion15a, the thickness 1, of the first pawl part 55 and the thickness 1 ofthe second pawl part 56 are selected to satisfy a relationship whereinl, l, l;,. Accordingly, when the pivoting pawl 53 engages the leaderportion 15a, only the tip of the first pawl part 55 enters into theengaging slot 16 of the leader portion 15a, to engage it. As the reel 36rotates, the fore end portion of the engaging slot 16 of the leaderportion is caught in the V or valley formed between the first pawl part55 and the second pawl part 56. Consequently, the leader 15 ispositively pulled by the pivoting pawl 53, as the reel 36 rotates.

When the first pawl part 55 hooks the leader portion 15a, the tape pullsor jerks the pivoting pawl 53 in a counterclockwise direction. However,when the pivoting pawl 53 is about to turn in a counterclockwisedirection, the pin 60 (provided on the base end part 58) is elasticallyengaged by the leaf spring 66. The counterclockwise torque, caused bythe tape pull acting upon the pivoting pawl 53, is elastically blockedby spring 66. Further, a window 16 in the leader portion 15a iselastically engaged by the elastic lining material 57 provided on thetip of the pivoting pawl 53. This mitigates the impact which thepivoting pawl 53 receives from the leader portion 15a when the pivotingpawl 53 hooks the leader portion 15a. Thus, damage to both the engagingslot 16 of the leader portion 15a and the tip of the first pawl part 55is avoided.

The thickness 1 of the second pawl part 56 is larger than the width 1,of the engaging slot 16 of the leader portion 15a. Thus, the leaderportion 15a engages only by the first pawl part 55, and is brought intocontact with and guided along the outer surface 67 of the second pawlpart 56. Since the outer surface 67 of the second pawl part 56 is formedin a curved surface which gradually approaches the circumference of thereel hub 50, the leader portion 15a is not bent abruptly as it is guidedalong the outer surface 67.

After the pivoting pawl 53 has hooked the leader portion 15a and rotatedabout 360 in the direction of arrow B, the tip of the pivoting pawl 53comes into contact with the inner surface of the leader 15 again. Thistime, however, there is no slot 16 in the portion of the leader 15 withwhich the tip of the pivoting pawl 53 comes into contact. Accordingly,as the pivoting pawl 53 further rotates in the direction of arrow B, itis moved clockwise in a revolving motion about the pin 54 and againstthe force of the spring 65, by a winding pressure applied by the leaderportion 15a. The pivoting pawl 53, as it is so moved by the leaderportion 15a, is gradually retracted into the reel hub 50, and it reachesthe position shown by a solid line in FIG. 2, when the revolvingmovement has finished. At this state, the tip of the leader portion 15ais held between the end portion of the resess of the reel hub 50 and theelastic material 57 on the first pawl part 55. The leader portion 15afurther runs along the outer surface 67 of the second pawl part 56. Whenit reaches the peripheral surface of the reel hub 50 it is at an anglewhich is substantially close to the circumference of the reel hub 50.Thus, the leader 15 is wound on the reel hub 50 by rotation of thewinding reel 36.

In order that the leader portion 15a may run along the outer surface 67of the second pawl part 56, the length of the engaging slot 16 must begreater than that of the portion of the first pawl part 55 extendingover the outer surface 67.

As the winding reel 36 rotates, the one of the two pivoting pawls 53which did not engage the leader 15 is also retracted into the reel hub50 by a winding pressure applied by the leader 15. The first of thepivoting pawls which engages the leader 15 catches it. Thus,

.pawl selection is dependent upon the time when the leader 15 moves intothe winding reel. No one pivoting pawl always engages the leader 15.

With the revolving of the pivoting pawl 53, the pin 61 also revolves ina clockwise direction. The pin 61 pushes the leaf spring 63 therebyopening the microswitch 62. The opening of the microswitch 62is'detected by a slip ring and a brush (not shown) in the winding reel36. This actuates the mechanism of. the magnetic recording andreproducing apparatus tov rctract the tape feeding roller 13 from thetape cartridge and to press the pinch roller 35 against the capstan 34,thereby causing the leader and the magnetic tape 14 to run positively.By this operation, the magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus ischanged from an auto-loading mode to a play mode.

After the foremost end portion of the leader portion 15a is completelyengaged by the pivoting pawl 53, the end portion is held between the tipof the first pawl part 55 and the side wall end portion of the recess 52in the reel hub 50 as shown in FIG. 2 by a chain line. Accordingly, theforemost end portion of the leader portion 15a is bent in a directionwhich is opposite to the curve along the outer surface 67 of the secondpawl part 56. This gives a slight bend to the foremost end portion whichis offset by the bend formed in the foremost end portion and the portionwhich follows it. Consequently, as a whole, the end portion of theleader portion 15a hardly becomes bent or curled even by a frequent use.

in the foregoing embodiment, the tape leader 15, provided at the end ofthe magnetic tape 14 and formed with the engaging slot in the foremostend portion thereof, is used as a tape-like material which the automaticwinding reel 36 automatically engages and winds up. However, thetape-like material is not limited to this. If a relatively hard flexiblefilm is used, a film formed in its foremost end portion with an engagingslot may be used without using the tape leader.

While the invention has been described with respect to the specificpreferable embodiment, various modifications and variations thereof willbe apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scopeof which is set forth in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. An automatic winding reel for a tape-like material comprising a reelhub having a recess, at least one pivoting pawl pivotally mounted onsaid reel hub so as to be extended from and retracted into said recess,means for applying a force to normally hold said pivoting pawl in aposition wherein the end portion of said pivoting pawl extends from theperipheral surface of said reel hub prior to engagement of the pivotingpawl with said tape-like material, said pivoting pawl comprising a firstpawl part having a relatively small thickness which is smaller than thewidth of an engaging slot formed in the foremost end portion of saidtape-like material and a second pawl part formed integrally with saidfirst pawl part, said second pawl part having a relatively largethickness which is wider than the width of said engaging slot, saidfirst pawl part having an outer surface which constitutes a part of aperipheral surface with a contour which conforms to the outer peripheralsurface of said reel hub, said pivoting pawl being retracted responsiveto pressure caused by the winding of the tapelike material as it comesinto engagement with said pivoting pawl and overcomes the force of saidmeans for normally holding said pawl in said extended position, saidsecond pawl part having an outer surface with its tip end being locatedin said recess and a contour which gradually approaches the outerperipheral surface of said reel hub when said pivoting pawl has beenretracted in said recess, an end wall portion of said recess and the tipof said first pawl part being formed to abut and engage each other forstopping the pivoting pawl when retracted into the recess such that theabutting surfaces of the end wall portion and the tip of the first pawlpart extend in a direction which is opposite to the curve along theouter surface of the second pawl part, the foremost end portion of saidtape-like material engaged by said first pawl part being guided alongthe outer surface of said second pawl part, then reaching the outerperipheral surface of said reel hub and being held between the tip ofthe first pawl part and the end wall portion of the recess therebycausing said tape-like material to be wound by said reel hub.

2; The automatic winding reel as defined in claim 1 wherein said firstpawl part projects and extends integrally from the middle part of theouter surface of said second pawl part as viewed in the direction of itsthickness.

3. The automatic winding reel as defined in claim 1 further comprisingan elastic material provided on at least the surface of said first pawlpart which catches said leader, said elastic material serving to absorbthe force of impact which said first pawl part receives responsive tothe impact of the end portion of said leader when said engaging slot iscaught by said first pawl part.

4. The automatic winding reel as defined in claim 1 and means forrotating said automatic winding reel, the pawl end portion of saidpivoting pawl extending outside of said reel hub far enough for the pawlend portion to hook and engage the engaging slot of the advancingtape-like material.

5. The automatic winding reel as defined in claim 1 wherein saidtape-like material is a tape leader made of a relatively hard flexiblematerial attached to the end of a magnetic tape, said automatic windingreel being applied to an auto-loading tape magnetic recording andreproducing apparatus comprising a supply reel on which said magnetictape and tape leader are wound, means for feeding said tape leader outof said supply reel and means for guiding said tape leader along apredetermined path to said automatic winding reel.

6. The automatic reel of claim 1 wherein said pawl has a resilient meansassociated with the end opposite the tape engaging end, said resilientmeans normally fixing the extended pawl position, and means responsiveto said tape engaging said pawl for pulling said pawl against the forceof said resilient means and thereby absorbing the impact of said tapewhen the tape is caught by said pawl.

7. An automatic tape loading machine comprising a reel having aretractable pawl in the hub thereof, first resilient means for normallyextending said pawl far enough to catch a window in an end of a tape andfor absorbing a pull when the tape is so caught, and second resilientmeans lining the catching end of said pawl for absorbing the shock ofimpact upon said window resulting from the impact when said pawl catchessaid tape.

8. The machine of claim 7 wherein said first resilient means comprises afirst spring having a predetermined resilient pull and a second springhaving a greater resilient fo'rce than said predetermined resilientpull, said second spring fixing the normal extended position.

* III

1. An automatic winding reel for a tape-like material comprising a reelhub having a recess, at least one pivoting pawl pivotally mounted onsaid reel hub so as to be extended from and retracted into said recess,means for applying a force to normally hold said pivoting pawl in aposition wherein the end portion of said pivoting pawl extends from theperipheral surface of said reel hub prior to engagement of the pivotingpawl with said tape-like material, said pivoting pawl comprising a firstpawl part having a relatively small thickness which is smaller than thewidth of an engaging slot formed in the foremost end portion of saidtapelike material and a second pawl part formed integrally with saidfirst pawl part, said second pawl part having a relatively largethickness which is wider than the width of said engaging slot, saidfirst pawl part having an outer surface which constitutes a part of aperipheral surface with a contour which conforms to the outer peripheralsurface of said reel hub, said pivoting pawl being retracted responsiveto pressure caused by the winding of the tape-like material as it comesinto engagement with said pivoting pawl and overcomes the force of saidmeans for normally holding said pawl in said extended position, saidsecond pawl part having an outer surface with its tip end being locatedin said recess and a contour which gradually approaches the outerperipheral surface of said reel hub when said pivoting pawl has beenretracted in said recess, an end wall portion of said recess and the tipof said first pawl part being formed to abut and engage each other forstopping the pivoting pawl when retracted into the recess such that theabutting surfaces of the end wall portion and the tip of the first pawlpart extend in a direction which is opposite to the curve along theouter surface of the second pawl part, the foremost end portion of saidtape-like material engaged by said first pawl part being guided alongthe outer surface of said second pawl part, then reaching the outerperipheral surface of said reel hub and being held between the tip ofthe first pawl part and the end wall portion of the recess therebycausing said tape-like material to be wound by said reel hub.
 2. Theautomatic winding reel as defined in claim 1 wherein said first pawlpart projects and extends integrally from the middle part of the outersurface of said second pawl part as viewed in the direction of itsthickness.
 3. The automatic winding reel as defined in claim 1 furthercomprising an elastic material provided on at least the surface of saidfirst pawl part which catches said leader, said elastic material servingto absorb the force of impact which said first pawl part receivesresponsive to the impact of the end portion Of said leader when saidengaging slot is caught by said first pawl part.
 4. The automaticwinding reel as defined in claim 1 and means for rotating said automaticwinding reel, the pawl end portion of said pivoting pawl extendingoutside of said reel hub far enough for the pawl end portion to hook andengage the engaging slot of the advancing tape-like material.
 5. Theautomatic winding reel as defined in claim 1 wherein said tape-likematerial is a tape leader made of a relatively hard flexible materialattached to the end of a magnetic tape, said automatic winding reelbeing applied to an auto-loading tape magnetic recording and reproducingapparatus comprising a supply reel on which said magnetic tape and tapeleader are wound, means for feeding said tape leader out of said supplyreel and means for guiding said tape leader along a predetermined pathto said automatic winding reel.
 6. The automatic reel of claim 1 whereinsaid pawl has a resilient means associated with the end opposite thetape engaging end, said resilient means normally fixing the extendedpawl position, and means responsive to said tape engaging said pawl forpulling said pawl against the force of said resilient means and therebyabsorbing the impact of said tape when the tape is caught by said pawl.7. An automatic tape loading machine comprising a reel having aretractable pawl in the hub thereof, first resilient means for normallyextending said pawl far enough to catch a window in an end of a tape andfor absorbing a pull when the tape is so caught, and second resilientmeans lining the catching end of said pawl for absorbing the shock ofimpact upon said window resulting from the impact when said pawl catchessaid tape.
 8. The machine of claim 7 wherein said first resilient meanscomprises a first spring having a predetermined resilient pull and asecond spring having a greater resilient force than said predeterminedresilient pull, said second spring fixing the normal extended position.